End gate for wagon and truck bodies



Aug. 13, 1929. c. WETZEL 1,724,384

END GATE FOR WAGON AND TRUCK BODIES Filed Dc. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Aug. 13, 1929. Q WETZEL 1,724,384

END GATE FOR WAGON AND TRUCK BODIES Filed Dec. 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED GHARLEY A. WETZEL,

OF KINSLEY, KANSAS.

Application filed December 16, 1926. Serial No. 155,246.

This invention relates to end gates for wagon and truck bodies and hasrelation more particularly to a gate of this kind particularly designedfor use in connectionwith bodies or boxes for transporting grain.

It is an object of the invention to provide a gate of this kindcomprising an upper section and a lower section operatively connectedina manner whereby when the lower section is in closed position, leakageof grain or the like through the gate is effectively prevented andwhereby the lower section when desired may be readily raised or liftedinto open position to effect a dumping or emptying of the wagon andtruck body or box.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a gate of this kindcomprising an upper section and a lower swinging section together withmeans coaeting with such sections to readily raise or drop the lowersection when desired and whereby the lower section is effectively heldor locked in closed position. a

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved end gatefor a wagon and truck body whereby certain important advantages areattained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwisemore. conven ient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter morefully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order. that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will nowproceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an, end gateconstructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and inapplied position, the lower section being closed;

Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a view in top plan of the.

structure as illustrated in Figure 1, the associated wagon and truck boxor body being shown in fragment;

stantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the gate as herein disclosed with thelower section in a raised or open position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken s b- Figure 4: is a sectional viewtaken sub stantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5. As disclosed in theaccompanyin drawings, B denotes a wagon and truck body or box of a typegenerally employed in the transporting of grain or the like and whichalso is generally of a type adapted to be tllted to effect the desireddumping or emptying of the load. However, as the particular constructionand mounting. of the body or box B forms no particular part of thepresent invention it is not thought that a detailed description. andillustration is necessary other than to'state that the side boards 1 ofthe box at the tail end portion thereof are provided with theconventional spaced cleats 2 between which the side marginal portions ofthe gate G are adaptedto be engaged.

As herein disclosed, the gate G proper comprises an. upper solid section3. of requisite dimensions and which has secured to the inner facethereof along its end margins the angle irons 4t,'said irons extending arequired distance below the section 3 and havm close contact with theside walls 1 of the body or box B.

The outer flanges a of the irons-4c are provided in the upper portionsthereof with the openings 5throu'gh which are disposed in a well-knownmanner the rods 6 formaintaining the upper section 3 of the gate G in afixed or stationaryposition with re'spectto the upper portionof the bodyor box B.

The lower portions of the flanges a of the irons 4, or such portionsbelow the section 3, have riveted, as at 7 or otherwise secured theretothe plates 8 extending forwardly with respect to the section 3 andhaving their outer vertical marginal portions provided with theoutwardly curved flanges 9. Extending along the outer face of each ofthe plates 8 and in continuity with the adjacentportion of the section 3which engages between the pair of cleats 2 is a strip 10 riveted, as at11, to the plate, said strip 10 being also adapted to engage between thepair of cleats 2 to further facilitate the requisite maintenance of thegate G in applied or working position.

The outer face of the section 3 has fixed thereto in relatively, closeproximity to its ends the' vertically ortransversely disposed strapirons, 12 the lower or inner end portion of each of which being formedwith the spaced pa al elears 14 between which s reber.

The end portions 16 of the bail lever are in parallelism while the outeror intermediate portion 17, as herein disclosed, is substantiallyV-shaped in form with its apex portion provided with a recess or notch18 to receive a turn-button 19 or 20 to maintain the lever L in eitherits raised or lowered position. The outerextremity of each of thestraight portions 16 of the lever L is received between the spaced ears21 carried by the extended portion of a strap 22 secured adjacent to theend of the lower gate section 23 and substantially in alignment with therespective strap 12 when the lower section 23 is in its closed position.The ears 21 are extended beyond the upper or inner longitudinal marginof the section 23.

The upper marginal portion of the section 23 has secured thereto andextending sub stantially entirely therealong the plate 2 1 the outerportion of which extends beyond the upper or inner margin of the section23 and overlaps and is in close contact with the inner or lower marginalportion of the gate section 23 when the lower gate section 23 is inclosed position.

As is particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, it is to be notedthat the opposed or meeting edges of the gate sections 3 and 23 arebeveled, as at I), such bevels being directed upwardly and outwardlywith respect to the bottom 25 of the wagon body or box B. These bevelsI) together with the plate 2 1 assure an effective seal between the gatesections 3 and 23 when the lower section 23 is in closed position, thuseliminating leakage of gram or other commlnuted material tions of saidflanges 26 being outwardly inclined, as at 26, at a predetermined angleto facilitate the lower corner portions of the gate section 23 havingdesired engagement with the flanges 26 as said gate section is loweredto closed position. It is also to be noted that the flanges 26 arespaced from the lower portions of the irons 4, or more particularly theinwardly disposed flanges 0 thereof, to substantially tightly receivebetween said flanges 26 and 0 said lower corner portions of the gatesection 23, thus assuring effective holding of the lower part of thegate section. When this gate section 23 is in its lowermost or closedposition, the central portion of the lever L is engaged by the lowerturn-button 19, said button when in holding position being receivedwithin the notch or recess 18 hereinbefore referred to. This engagementserves to further hold the gate section 23 in closed position and moreparticularly the upper portion of such section. 7

When it is desiredto dump or empty the wagon and truck body or box B, aslight pressure is imposed upon the lever L to swing said lever inwardlysuflicient to permit the turn-button 19 to be disengaged or freedtherefrom. Lifting pull is then imposed upon the lever L until the' sameassumes its uppermost position as indicated in Figures 5 and 6 whereuponthe turn-button 20 is engaged with said lever to maintain the same insuch elevated position. This operation of the lever L lifts and swingsout wardly the lower gate section 23 into its raised or open position asillustrated in Figures 5 and 6. WVhen in this position, it is to beunderstood that this gate section 23 is free to have further upwardindependent swinging movement but is held against in dependent downwardswinging movement by contact from above of the free longitudinalmarginal portion of the'plate' 2t with the straight portions 16 of thelever L.

With the lower gate section 23 in its raised or lifted position it isreturned to its lowermost or closed position in a reverse manner as justexplained in connection with the lifting of said section except thatjust before the lower corners of the gate, section 23 engage theinclined portions 26 ofthe flanges 26, slight inward pressure by theperson 3 adjusting the gate section be imposedupon the lower portion ofsuch section.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an endgate for a wagon and truck body constructed in accordance with-myinvention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the con.-venience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, andit will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some changeand modification without departing from the principles and spiritthereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood aslimitingmyself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several partshere-in shown in carrying out my invention in practice except ashereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In a wagon end gate, an upper stationary member, a lowershiftablg member designed to be removably positioned below and in thesame plane as the upper memher and in edge to edge contact therewith,

a pair of relatively long outwardly and downwardly inclined ears securedto the outer face of said upper member adjacent each end thereof, a pairof upwardly and outwardly extending relatively long ears secured to theouter face of the lower member adjacent each end, each normally lyingbeneath a pair of ears upon the upper member, and a bail ofsubstantially U-shaped formation and having the free end of each sideportion thereof arranged between the outer ends of a air of thefirst-mentioned ears and pivotal y secured thereto, each of said armsfurther'being arranged between a pair of the second mentioned ears andpivotally secured to the same, said bail when swung upwardly from anormally depending position, swinging the pairs of ears on the lowermember to position above and substantially parallel with and restingupon the adjacent pairs of ears on the upper member to an range the saidlower portion of the gate in raised outwardly and downwardly inclinedposition with respect to the upper portion.

2. In a wagon end gate, an upper and a lower member, said upper memberbeing normally fixed with respect to the lower member, a pair of strapssecured vertically of the outer face of the upper member, each adjacentone end thereof and each terminating in a pair of relatively longoutwardly and downwardly inclined ears, said ears being arranged asubstantial distance above the lower edge of the upper member, a pair ofstrap members secured vertically of the outer face of the lower memberadjacent each end thereof and each terminating at its upper end in apair of relatively long upwardly and outwardly inclined ears extendingabove the upper edge of the lower member and in substantial alinementwith a pair of ears of the upper member, an operating bail ofsubstantially U-shaped formation having the ends of the sides thereofsubstantially parallel, each of said sides being pivotally mounted atits end between the ends of a pair 9f ears of the uppermember, each ofsaid sides further being pivotally mounted between the ends of the earsof the lower member, said bail normally depending when the lower memberis in closed position and when swung upwardly swinging the ears of thelower member to a position above and resting upon the ears of the uppermember to maintain the gate in raised outwardly and downwardly inclinedposition, and means for receiving the gate to hold the same in closedposition when the bail is lowered.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

OHARLEY'A. WETZEL.

